Historic US midterms: Black, Indigenous, Latina & LGBTQ leaders win key races

Historic firsts as candidates break barriers across states The 2026 US midterm elections have delivered several historic firsts, with candidates breaking longstanding barriers in gubernatorial and Senate races across the country.Democrats Keisha Lance Bottoms, Deb Haaland, Gina Hinojosa and Amy Klobuchar have made history with their victories in governors' races, while Peggy Flanagan and Chris Pappas have broken new ground in the Senate.The results include the election of the first Black woman governor in US history, the first Native American woman to lead a state, the first Latina governor of Texas and the first openly gay man elected to the US Senate. Republican Byron Donalds has also become Florida's first Black governor.The victories mark milestones for representation in American politics, particularly for communities that have historically been under-represented in elected office.The victories also mark milestones for Democrats in states where Republicans have held power for decades.Historic firsts in gubernatorial racesKeisha Lance Bottoms: First Black woman governorFormer Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has become the first Black woman elected governor in US history. She ...